December 2, 2009,
Mildred Louise Duckett Meroney,
passed away in Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Click
here for Information
Prisoner
Of War Medal
Presentation
and Ceremony
Trinity
Village Retirement Community, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
September
9, 2009
Little
Rock Air Force Base leaders presented the
widow of a World War II flying ace the
Prisoner of War Medal posthumously Sept.
9 at Trinity Village Medical Center in Pine Bluff.
Mildred
Louise Meroney was presented the POW medal for retired Air Force Col. Virgil K.
Meroney.
Colonel Meroney was a World War II ace with nine aerial victories
and flew 85 combat missions
in P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang aircraft.
He was shot down April 1944,
captured by Nazi German forces, was a prisoner
of war and escaped in April 1945.
The colonel also served in the Korean War
and Vietnam War.
This
medal was authorized by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan
in 1986.
The medal may be awarded to any person who was a prisoner of war after
April 5, 1917,
the date of the United States entry into World War I. It's awarded
to any person
who was taken prisoner or held captive while engaged in an action
against an enemy of the United States;
while engaged in military operations
involving conflict with an opposing armed force;
or while serving with friendly
forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in
which the
United States is not a belligerent party. The person's conduct, while in captivity,
must have been honorable.
Little
Rock Air Force Base provided a full Military Honor Guard, National Anthem Vocalist
and Invocation Chaplain.
Colonel Greg Otey, 19th Airlift Wing Commander, insisted
that he present the POW Medal at the Ceremony.
An
Air Force Still Photographer, Senior Airman Jim B. Araos
and
Videographer, Senior Airman Michael L. Watkins
provided
full coverage of the event.
Click
Here for the US Air Force Pictures - Small
These
photos are in a small "normal web size"
for fast access.
Click on any thumbnail and a slide show will begin.
If
you "right click" on any image, you will be able to "save as"
to
your computer this small size image 4x6 @ 100dpi.
Click
Here for the US Air Force Pictures - Large
These
photos are very large - 1800 x 1200
Click on any
thumbnail and a 25" x 16.75" x 72 dpi image will be shown.
The slide
show has been removed.
If you "right click" on any image, you will
be able to "save as" to
your computer in an ideal 4 x 6 @ 300 dpi
for printing.
Click
here for the News Article provided at LRAFB Web Site
Christopher
Hunkel, from Public Affairs at
LRAFB, provided extraordinary
planning talents to insure that the Air Force
and Trinity Village honored
Louise Meroney for her sacrifices and patriotism.
Thanks,
Chris ! ! !
Trinity
Village Retirement Community
Christy
Smith, Administrator of the Trinity Village Medical Center
Words
will never be enough to describe my and my Family's deep appreciation for the
tremendous
success of the POW Presentation Ceremony held at Trinity Village on September
9, 2009.
Christy's leadership and planning paid off for all those in attendance
as being an unforgettable event.
The support and work provided from all those
smiling staff members and volunteers is a credit to Trinity Village.
Bud
Palin, from Gaylord, Michigan, accompanied me on the trip. Not only is he a great
friend and traveling
companion, but he is an excellent photographer. I was
able to leave my camera and concentrate on enjoying
being with my Mother, Sons,
Niece and Nephew, other family members and lots of dear ole friends.
Click
Here for Bud Palin's Pictures - Small
These
photos are in a small "normal web size"
for fast access.
Click on any thumbnail and a slide show will begin.
If
you "right click" on any image, you will be able to "save as"
to
your computer this small size image 4x6 @ 100dpi.
Click
Here for Bud Palin's Pictures - Large
These
photos are very large - 1800 x 1200
Click on any
thumbnail and a 25" x 16.75" x 72 dpi image will be shown.
The slide
show has been removed.
If you "right click" on any image, you will
be able to "save as" to
your computer in an ideal 4 x 6 @ 300 dpi
for printing.
KARK
TV Channel 4 in Little Rock
provided
a Videographer/Reporter and produced the following segment:
Click
here for the KARK-TV Web Page
& click on the
American Flag for the Video
& there may be a short lead-in segment
The
Pine Bluff Commercial newspaper
provided
a Still Photographer and Reporter & published a
Front Page Article on Thursday,
Sept 10, and Web Page Article
Click
here for the PB Commercial Web Page Article
"Sweet
Louise"
"Sweet
Louise II"
(click on the P-51 B for a larger
image)
A newly discovered
picture of Sweet Louise and Sweet Louise II - Together!
Link
to "A Tribute to Father and Son"
Link
to: The 352nd Fighter Group Association
Link
to: The Home of the 352nd Fighter Group
Link
to: The Preddy Foundation Web Site
Send
an email: graylingsnapshot@verizon.net
Doug
Meroney/Fannie Finn's Main Page
